McLaren brings major upgrade package to Hungarian Grand Prix
NXTbets Pro | Published On: July 22, 2026
McLaren upgrade package
McLaren has brought a significant upgrade package for the MCL40 to the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the work centers on a new floor and other aerodynamic parts. The team said the update is designed to close a development gap in aerodynamic progress after it fell two to three months behind its rivals in that area. That puts the weekend squarely on evaluation duty, with the car expected to run through practice sessions at the Hungaroring while the team studies what the changes deliver on track. McLaren is chasing progress against Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, and it enters the weekend third in the constructors’ standings after 10 races and 163 points behind Mercedes. That gap gives the new package added importance. McLaren does not need a flashy one-off gain. It needs a clear step forward that can hold up across a race weekend and point the team toward a stronger second half of the campaign. The Hungarian stop offers that chance because the car can be compared directly with its current baseline before Formula 1 heads into the summer shutdown.
Macarena rear wing
McLaren will also test an upside-down rear wing nicknamed the “Macarena” during Hungarian Grand Prix practice this weekend. The part was developed after a previous version failed to make its planned debut in Austria, and McLaren does not expect it to become a full-time race component in Hungary or at the Dutch Grand Prix. That keeps the focus on data rather than immediate race use. The wing sits inside a wider aero program that includes the new floor, so the team can judge how the pieces work together rather than treat the test as a stand-alone experiment. McLaren wants practice mileage at Budapest to answer basic questions about airflow and balance, with the rear wing giving the engineers another reference point in the same package that is meant to move the car closer to the front-runners. The name may draw attention, but the purpose stays practical. McLaren wants to understand whether the concept belongs in its development path and whether it helps the car build toward more competitive performance after the break. The team will keep the result of that test inside the garage, where the numbers matter more than the nickname.
Budapest evaluation
Randy Singh said Budapest gives McLaren a useful test because the circuit is high-downforce and tire-sensitive, which makes it a strong place to judge whether the new parts produce the right kind of performance. He said McLaren wants meaningful data before Formula 1’s summer shutdown and wants to enter the break with positive momentum. Andrea Stella also framed the weekend as a starting point for the next stage of development, saying Hungary should provide the first results of McLaren’s direction and that more upgrades are expected after the break. That leaves the team with a clear checklist for the weekend. It wants the upgrade package validated in practice. It wants a read on the rear wing concept. It wants a sharper picture of where the MCL40 stands against the leading teams once the new parts go on the car. McLaren will also turn to Leonardo Fornaroli in Friday practice, with the driver replacing Oscar Piastri and making his second FP1 appearance of the season. The session gives McLaren another set of hands and another layer of feedback as it works through the new hardware. The team heads into Budapest looking for usable answers, not a finished product, and the next step comes after the shutdown.
